Machine for making link mesh.



A. C. PRATT.

MACHINE FOR MAKING LINK MESH. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 29. 1912. RENEWEDOCT. 11, 1919.-

1,139,799. Patented May 18, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR ATTORN EYS THE NORRIS PETERS CO., PHOTO-LITHQ.WASHINGTON, D C.

A. C. PRATT.

MACHINE FOR MAKING LINK MESH. APPLICATION TILED JAN.29,1912. RENEWEDOCT-11,1913.

Patented May 18, 1915.

5 SHEETSSHEET 2.

WITNESSES:

ATTORNEYS A. C. PRATT.

MACHINE FOR MAKING LINK MESH. APPLICATION FILED IAN. 29, 19.12. RENEWEDOCT- n. 1913.

Patented. May 18, 1915.,

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVENTOR 1?;

ATTORNEYS WITNESSL J 02 M }f% THE NORRIS PETERS 60., PHOTO-LITHOY,WASHINGTON D. C.

A. c. PRATT.

MACHINE FOR MAKING LINK MESH.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 29. 1912. RENEWED OCT. 11, 1913.

Patented May 18, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

INVENTOR 6 WW;

BY M ATTORNEYS THE NORRIS PETERS 60.. PHOTO-LITHO., WASHINGTON. D. C.

A. C. PRATT. MACHINE FOR MAKING LINK MESH. APPLICATION FILED JAN- 29.I9l2- RENEWED OCT- 1 I. 1913.

fly

Patented. May 18, 1915.

5 SHEETS INVENTOR ATTORNEYS CD. PHOm-LITHQ, WASHINGTON D c.

ma rue MACHINE FOR .MAKING LINK MESH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May is, 1915.

Application filed January 29, 1912, Serial No. 673,999. Renewed October11, 1913. Serial No. 794,717.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALPHoNso G. Pnarna citizen of the United States,residing at Montclair, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for MakingLink Mesh, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for making link-mesh. I p

The invention is directed to the provision of an improved form oflink-mesh machine adapted particularly for making mesh from links of aspecial design.

The mesh made with the improved ma chine consists of a plurality oflinks, each interlinked with two other links. The links are of a shapeapproximating three sides of a rectangle and have loops at each of theirends, each loop adapted to encircle the body portion of another link.Preferably each link is made by punching fromsheet-inetal a link of ashape approximating an'oblong or oval, then folding this link'uponitself and spreading the two folded portions at the bight of the fold soas to form loops at the ends of the link thus made. In making alink-mesh fabric from such links, each link has one end threaded throughthe loops of two adjacent links, so that these two links encircle thebody portion of the newly added link and the latter has its ends free toreceive the body portions of two links to be added thereafter.

The invention involves, broadly, the general features of the machinewhereby fabric of the character above mentioned is made,

and additionally various individual features employed in the machine,such as the mech anism for automatically feeding links of the characterabove described into position to be added'to the fabric by the threadingmechanism, mechanism for automatically manipulating a link of thecharacter above described so as to add it to a fabric in proper relationto the links forming the fabric, and mechanism for opening the loops'atthe ends of links of the character abovejdescribed, so.

as to permit'of more readily threading new links through such loops. a

I have illustrated one embodiment of the invention which Figure 1-is asectional elevation of the machine, Fig. 2 is a top view of the same,Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view hereinafter described, Fig. 4: is asectional elevation, showing the link-feeding mechanism, Fig. 5 is aview of the completed mesh, Figs. 6, 7

8 and 9 are detail views, villustrating succesillustrating the modifiedmechanism for op eration in accordance with Figs. 18 and 14.,

and Fig. 16 is a detail view showing certain of the parts illustrated inFig. 15.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 10, the machine comprises a supportingplate 1,mounted'upon standards 2 rising from a suitable table or othersupport. In the standards 2 are bearings for a power-shaft 3, which'isdriven in any suitable manner, as by means of a belt running over thepulley 4. Upon in'the accompanying drawings, in

the plate 1, is mounted a support for the fabric made on the machine,this including mechanism for feeding the fabric step by step, so as topresent the proper points successively to the threading mechanism, in

order that new links will be added to the V fabric at the properpositions. This fabricsupporting means is preferably constructed in themanner illustrated and described in Patent No. 948,615, grantedto meFebruary 8th, 1910. The. support consists of a stationary mandrel 5projecting upwardly from the plate 1 and having thereon a portion 6which is provided with a spiral'groove upon its cylindrical surface.Above the portion 6, is a sleeve 7 mounted for rotation upon thestationary mandrel 5- and having parallel vertical grooves upon itscylindrical surface. A second sleeve 8 incloses the sleeve 7 and thespirally threaded portion 6, this sleeve 8 having parallel verticalgrooves upon its interior surface. Between the interior surface of thesleeve 8 and the exterior surfaces of the sleeve 7 and the portion 6, isa narrow space adapted to receive a piece of linkmesh fabric in theformof a sleeve. The outer sleeve 8 is mountedfor rotation in a ring 9,which is supported upon the table 1. Above this ring, thev sleeve 8 hasratchet? teeth 10 formed thereon, adapted to be engaged by a pawlll(Fig. '2). This pawl-1s 0 spring-pressed toward the ratchet 1O andiscarried by the upper endof a rod 12 (Figs. 2 and 41) which is rotatablein bearings carried by the ring 9 and the plate 1. V

' At itslower end, therod 12,.has a crankarm 13, which is held by aspring 14:. inengagement with a. cam 15 mounted upon the power-shaft 3.By me'ansjof this mt v ha nisin, each time the rotary shaft 3 completesone revolution, the arm 13 and rod l 2 a;r e

oscillated about theaxis of the rodand'the pawl 11 turns ratchet 10 andsleeve 8 one At the end of this step. movement,

step. thesleeve 8 is held by a springspressed retaining pawl1 6 ig. 2').VVhen the sleeve 8 is so rotated one step, it carries with itthe sleeve,of fabric inclosed-by-it, as the, vertical ridges upon the interiorsurface of the sleeve 8 enter the vertlcal depress ons 1n the Sun:

' cause the fabric to turn with the sleeve.

face of the mesh and in that waysecure a hold on the sleeve of fabricsufficient to.

As the. exterior sleeve 8 turns thus, the interior sleeve7 turns with itand the vertical ridges upon the interior sleeve? aidmaterially ininsuring that the fabric will move. step by step accurately with theouter. sleeve 8. When the sleeve. of fabric is turnedpthus about itsaxis, it is, caused to. move upwardly by, the spiral ridgesuponthefsurfac'e of the portion 6 of the mandrel 5. These ridges enterdepressions formed'in; the, surface of the fabric by the, arrangement ofthe links I thereof, and'in this way secure. a sufficient hold upon thefabric to insure that the latter will be moved upwardly in accordance,

with the spiral thread ontheportion 6 that is, each time thefabric isstepped around by the sleeves 8 and 7, it will be moved upwardly apredetermined amount by the spiral ridges on the portion 6.

The fabric made on the machine shown in the drawings: is illustratedinFig; 5/

Each link preferably consists of a sheetmetal punching and is initiallyof a shape approximating a hollow rectangle This punching is then foldedupon itself, and its v ends are bent to form loops. It willb e seen thatthe links are arranged in rows both; vertically and horizontally, and inthe sleeve of fabric on the support above described the.

rows, which in the finished fabric are horizontal, are arranged spirallywith a pitch equal to the'pitch of the spirallon tthe exteriorlythreaded portion 6 of'the mandrel.

Each link of one horizontal row has they loops at its ends encirclingthe body por' tions of two adjacent links of the next lower row; also,each link of one row has its body portion encircled by the loops of twoadjacent linksof the next higher row; A I

'The links constructed as above indicated are placed in a hopper 17mounted. upon the table 1. A blade 18 projects upwardly throughthebottom of this hopper and its upper end is inclined as shown at 19 inFig. 41. This blade is arranged to be recipro cated Within the hopper 17in any suitable manner. 'In the drawings, the lower end of i the bladeis shown as pivotally connected to me'chanism'is arranged to subjectthe.blade 18 to a light blow when the latter reachesthe illustrated, this isaccomplished by making the slot in theflever21 of slightly. greaterwidth} end of its upwardmovement. In the machine than the diameterof thewristpin 22 When the blade '18 reaches the upper end, of

movement, the lower end of itsinclinedupper "edge is in line with thebottom of a chute 25 This chute is of a crossrsectional shapesubstantially-the. same as the shape of the, links when. seeninthefposition 1n which they are shown in Fig. 5. As the blade 18'riseswithinthehopper 17, it passes upwardlythrough the mass oflinks withinthe hopper andmore or less of these links assume a position straddlingthe up'per edge of the bladeand are carried upwardly by the blade. Asthe links so carried upwardly by the blade become freed from the mass oflinks within thehopper, they slide down the upper inclined edge of theblade; This sliding movement is facilitated by the light 'blow which isgiven to the blade when the latter reaches the upper'iend of its rangeof movement asabove described, When the blade is atthe upperliniit of1138.1110176111311: these links slide off the inclined upper edgeof theblade andinto' the chute 25, the latter I beinginclined as shown?W'ithin thechute,' the links are supported in proper'relative positionby the ridge orften'on mamas chute, which -forms' a continuation of ther upper edge of blade1 8 when-the latter is in its uppermost positions"Mounted on the plate-1, is a' su pport 2 6 (Fig. 1),"on which a block.27 (Figs.'1 and; 2) is pivotally mounted,"so that it can be turned about'anaxis indicated by the ref- L erence 28 in Fig. 2. .This block has alengthwise groove in the upper face thereof, of semi-oval shape,as shownin Fig. 10, and secured in this groove is a tube 29 (Figs. 1, 2, 6 and10). The block 27 has a sector gear 30 (Figs. 1 and 2) secured to theunder side thereof and adapted to mesh with a sector-gear 81 mountedupon the upper end of a rod 32 adapted to be oscillated in a bearingformed in the platel. The lower end of rod 32 has a crank 33 securedthereto, held by a spring 34 in engagement with a cam formed on the sideof the disk 24. By this construction, during each rotation of shaft 3,the rod 32 will be oscillated by cam 24:, and by means of the gears 31and 30 will turn the block 27 about the axis 28 through an angleapproximating ninety degrees, and then back to its original position.

The tube 29, heretofore referred to as mounted upon the block 27, hasthe upper half thereof cut away for a distance slightly greater than thelength of a link, as inclicated in Figs. 6, 7 and 10. When the block 27and tube 29 are being moved as above described back to the position inwhich they are shown in Figs. 1 and 2, this opening in the upper side ofthe tube 29 passes under the lower end of the chute 25, which at itslower end is preferably substantially vertical. As this occurs, thelinks in the chute move downwardly, so that one link is received in thetube 29 through the opening in the tube above referred to. The block 29does not, however, stop with this opening directly under the end of thechute25, but moves beyond that point. As shown in Figs. 2 and 10, theend of the chute is displaced from the tube 29 when the latter is in itsnormal position. A link having been fed into the tube in this manner, itis moved forwardly to the end of the tube adjacent to the mandrel 5.This movement of the link is effected by a plunger 35 adapted toreciprocate within the tube 29. At its outer end, this plunger has aprojection 36 (Fig. 1), adapted to be engaged by the upper end of alever 37 pivotally mounted upon a standard depending from the table 1.The lower end of this lever is adapted to coact with a cam 38 securedupon the power-shaft 3, the end of the lever being held in engagementwith the cam by a spring 39. As the block 2? moves about the axis 28back to the position in which it is shown in Figs. 1. and 2, and in suchmovement receives a link with in the tube 29, the projection 36 comesoppothis end of the tube 29 is contracted slightly,

so that it will grasp and hold the link when the latter is so projectingfrom the end of the tube Fig. 6 shows the relative positions of themandrel, the block 27 and the tube 29 carried by the block, when theblock has been moved to the position in which it is shown in Figs. 1 and2. A link is shown at 40 within the tube 29. In Fig. 6, the end of thechute 25 is shown, but it will be under stood thatthis chute is not inalinement with tube 29 but is displaced therefrom as shown in Fig. 10.After the plunger 35 has been moved forward in the manner abovedescribed, the parts are carried to the positions in which they areshown in Fig. 7 In projecting the link forward from the end of tube 29in this manner, the end of the link is carried between the ends of a.link depending from the lower end of the sleeve of fabric upon themandrel 5. In Fig. '7, the reference 41 indicates the two ends of a linkand the reference A2 indicates the two ends of the. next adjacent link.It will be seen that one end of the link 41 is closely adjacent to oneend of the link 4C2, and that the forward end of the link to,

which is to be added to the mesh, is projected between the two ends ofthe link 41 and is directly opposite the openings through the adjacentlooped ends of the links 41 and 42. Just at this time, the cam 21 actsthrough the arm 33, red 32 and gears 30 and 31, to turn the block 27 andthe tube 29 carried thereby through an angle approximating ninetydegrees, thus carrying the tube and the link 40 held thereby to theposition shown in Figs. 8 and 9. As this occurs, the end of the link a0projecting from tube 29 is threaded through the adjacent looped ends oflinks 41 and 42. Fig. 8 shows the positions of the parts near the end ofthis movement. To facilitate the threading of the new link in thismanner, the surface of the stationary mandrel 5 may be cut away slightlyas shown at 43, so as to permit the link ll to tilt a small amount. Justas the block 27 and tube 29 near the end of this rotational movementabout the axis 28, the projection 36 on the rear end of the plunger 35engages a cam surface 4% and the plunger is moved forwardly within thetube 29 a small amount, sufficient to force the link 40 from the end oftube 29. This position of the parts is shown in Fig. 9. The cam 4A: isadjustably mounted upon standards rising from the table 1, theadjustment permitting of regulating the movement of the plunger 35caused by the cam, so that it will be jus suflicient to discharge thelink 40 from the end of the tube 29. As the block 27 reache the end ofits rotational movement in this direction, the projection 36 passesbeyond the end of the cam 44, and beyond the end of a spring-finger 4:5atthe end of the cam.

The rotationof the power-shaft 3 the'ncarspring-finger 45 and forced totravel upon the outer side of the cam td, which cam is of such shapethat during thereturn movement of the block 27 the plunger-35 is rebenoted that'the upper surface of the block 27 is extended by a curvedprojection 46' iving a new link, the ratchet-and-pa'wl' holds them inthe proper relation.

tracted to its outermost position. The plun ger '35 is drawn outwardlyin this way, so that its end is beyondthe opening in the tube 29 whenthe latter passes under the end of the chute 25, so that during, thisreturn movement of. the block 27 thetube 29 receives another link fromthe chute. It will (Fig. 2), which serves to close the lower end of thechute 25 when the block 27 has been turned to the Figs. 8 and 9position. As the block 27 'is being returned thus and 1s mechanismhereinafterdescribed operates to turn the sleeves 7 and8 one step, sothat the fabric is carried around uponthe stationary mandrel to suchposition thatthe next link will be added to the fabric'in theproperpo-The operation of the machine in the manner described is continuous andautomatic. The operation of the feeder insures that a supply of linkswill always be present in the chute or feeding channel and these linkswill all be properly arranged for coaction with the parts'of the machineas the tenon in the bottom of the channel receives the links from theupper .edge of the feeder and Each time the tube and block aremovedback' to normal position, thetube receives one link, from thebottom of the channel. In so picking up the link, the latter is moved inthe direction of its shorter dimension and by reason of this themechanism can be relied on to feedbut one link at a time and to feedthis smoothly and without any interference. If the link were fed awayfrom the chute in the direction of its larger dimension, there would be.aptto be interference due to the looped end of the link withdrawncatching from the chute into the tube, the lower end upon a looped endof the next higher link. Between the times of withdrawing links theblock 27 except'when the tube 29 :is passing under c'hute'25 inturningfrom the position in which it is shown in Fig. 2 at which time theopening in the .tube .29. is closed by the plunger '85. whichis then inthe forward position. After the link is re ceivedin the tube 29 it isfed forward until its end is projected from the end of the tube,

then turned to thread it through the loops gravity to a position withitslooped endsdirected downwardly so that they will be in position toreceive links when thesleeveoof the fabric has been turned through onerevolution. p

It will be appreciated that the construc tion illustrated may bemodified in various ways without departing from the principles of theinvention. Thus instead of a piece of fabric in the form of a sleeve anda mandrelfor supporting it, I may employa flat piece of fabric and meansfor moving this step by stepto present the proper points thereon to thelink-feeding and threading mechanism. I V J a V In some cases, 1t may bedesirable to pro vide a machine of the character described withmechanism for opening the loops at the ends of the links, afterthoselinks have been added to the fabric. WVith such mechanism,

. tively thin or fiat. Its sidewalls would be spread apart somewhat butnot enough to cause obstruction of the feeding movement of the end ofthe link through the loops'of the links of the fabric with which it istobe meshed. Thereafter, these side walls at the ends of the link wouldbe spread apart far enough to makethe loops formed thereby of the properdimensions and thus facilitate the entrance of the ends of the addedlinks through them.

I have shown a mechanism for operating in this manner inthe accompanyingdraw ings and this will now be described in con 'nection with Figs. 1,2, 11"and12. "This mechanism comprises means whereby each link of themesh may be subgected to pressure whereby the side walls of the narrowloopsat the ends of the links will be spread apart. In the mandrel 5 isa radial opening which receives a short rod50 which has'prongs .51:(Fig. 12) at its outer end. This rod is nor mally .drawn'inwardly withrespect to the mandrel 5 by a spring 52. Within a ver tically disposedopeningin the mandrel is a :rod 53 having a conical surface near itsupper end which surface is adapted to engage the inner end of rod 50.The rod 53 is connected at its lower end by a pin and slot'connection toan arm 54 pivctally' mounted onthe frame of the machine and carrying aroller 55 at its free end which roller is adapted to ride on a cam 56secured to the power shaft 3. As the cam isrotated it will operate toraise arm 54 and rod 53 and the cam surface on red 53 will operate toproject the rod 50 against the tension of spring 52. As the rod is soprojected the prongs 51 will move out directly over the top of a link ofthe fabric, one prong over each end of the body-portion of the link andthe space between the prongs receiving the ends of the links whose loopsencircle that body portion. This position of the rod 50 is shown in Fig.11. Immediately after the prongs 51 are projected over the upper edge ofthe body-portion of a link, a pressing member is raised into engagementwith the lower ends of that link; This pressing member is shown at 57inFigs. 3 and 11. It is adapted to move vertically in suitable guideopenings and at its lower end is connected by a pin and slot with thearm 54. The slot 58 in the rod 57 is of such length that the rod 57 willnot be raised until the arm 54 has been raised a substantial distance,that is, until the rod 50 has been projected radially to its outermostposition. By this mechanism the body-portion of a link is held fromabove by the prongs 51 and immediately thereafter the upper end of rod57 is raised into engagement with the ends of that link and is thenraised sufliciently thereafter to cause the link to be subjected topressure between the rod 57 and prongs 51. Under this pressure thenarrow loops in the ends of the link are spread so that the openingsthrough those ends are enlarged to the desired extent.

Another way in which the mechanism above described may be modified,without departing from the spirit of my invention, is illustrated inFigs. 13, 14, 15' and 16. In the machine shown in the preceding figuresthe movement of the link necessary to thread its end through the loopsof links of the fabric is effected by turning the tube through which thelinks are fed about an axis adjacent to the surface of the fabric.Instead of doing this the tube may remain stationary or its movement maybe limited to that required to feed links from the chute 25 into thetube and the links may be fed from the tube into a threading devicewhich is moved as required to mesh the link held thereby with the linksof the fabric. This latter construction is illustrated in Figs. 13 to16. The tube 60 corresponds in all respects to the tube 29 shown inFigs. 1 to 10 except that it is cut away slightly at itsend, ashereinafter described. This tube may be stationarily mounted or it maybe arranged to have a slight lateral or pivotal movement in order tocarry it to and from the end of the chute 25. At its end, adiacent tothe mandrel, the bottom wall of the tube is cut away as shown at 61 inFigs. 13, 14 and 15. The plunger 35 moves a link which has been fed intothe tube, forwardly within the tube, in the manner before describeduntil that link has reached the position shown at 62 by dotted lines inFig. 18. In the plate 1 is an opening which receives a rod. 63 adaptedto have both a rotary and an axial movement. Above plate 1 this rodcarries a pincer-arm 64 which is mounted eccentrically with respect tothe rod 63. On the arm 64 is pivotally mounted a second pincer-arm 65,the latter being actuated by a spring 66 to move to the open position.The lower end of rod 63 carries a roller 67 which rides on the surfaceof a cam 68. The rod 63 also carries a gear 69 which is engaged by agear 70 on a rotary shaft 71. Fig. 15 shows the normal position of theseparts. It will be seen that the upper ends of the pincer-arms aredirectly below that end of a link projecting from tube 60 which end isdistant from the mandrel 5. With the parts in the position shown in Fig.15 the cam 68 operates to raise rod 63 and the pincer-arms carriedthereby. The end of arm 65 enters the opening 61 on the rear side of therear end of the link 62 and the upper end of the arm 64 passes up on theforward side of that end of the link. As the arms 64 and 65 are raisedthus, the lower end of the arm 65 engages a stop 72 stationarily mountedon the plate 1. The coaction of the arm with this stop, as the arm israised vertically, causes the arm to turn about its pivotal connectionto the arm 64 against the tension of the spring 66. As arm 66 turns thusit draws the link 62 out of the end of the tube '60 and grasps the rearend of the link between the arm 65 and the arm 64. The link is then inthe position in which it is shown by the full lines in Fig. 13, in whichfigure it will be noted that the rear end of the link is held betweenthe pincer-arms. After these movements take place, the shaft 71 is givena par,- tial rotation and operates through the gears 70 and 69 to imparta partial rotation to the rod 63 causing that rod and the parts carriedthereby to rotate in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 16. It will beseen that the cam 72 has its inner surface curved about the axis ofrotation of shaft 68 as shown at 7 3 in 16, so that while thepincer-arms are being rotated by the rotation of shaft 63, those armswill be held in gripping relation to the link. The extent of rotation ofshaft 63 and the location of the pincer-arms with respect to the axis ofrotation of that shaft are such that the rotation of the shaft causesthe link held by the pincer-arms to move over a path such that theforward end of the link is fed through the loops of two coacting linksof the mesh on mandrel 5. As the link nears the end of this movement thelower end of arm 65 rides upon the portion 74 of the cam 72 whichrecedes from the aXis of rotation, and as this occurs the spring 66moves the pincer-arm 65 to cause thelatter to release the link.Immediately'after this I occurs the cam 68 allows the rod'63 and thepincer-arms carried thereby to be'moved downwardly so as to carry theupper ends of the pincer-arms below the plane of tube 60,'suchdownward'movement of the rod 63 being effected by a spring 7 5. ,By thisconstruction it will be seen that the linksare fed forward successivelythrough the tube that after each link is fed forward, the pincer-armsare raised, and in being'raised are caused to grasp the rear end of thelink,

that the pincerarms are then rotated through a portion of a revolutionso as to mesh the link held thereby with the links of the mesh onth'emandrel; that the pincers then release the link and move downwardly;

and that the pincer-arms are then rotated back to their initial positionin readiness to grasp the next link.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new therein anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows:'

1. In a link-mesh machine, the combination of means forsupporting apiece of linkmesh, means for; advancing links succes sively intocooperative relation to the links 'of the mesh, and means for turningeach link so fed about an axis parallel to the surface of the piece ofmesh and thereby linking it with the mesh, substantially as set forth. Vv,

2. In a'link-mesh machine, the combination of means for supporting apiece of-linkmesh and moving it step by step in the direction of thelength and in the direction of the width of the mesh, means foradvancing links successively into cooperative relation to the links ofthe meslnand means for turning eachlink so fed about an axis parallel tothe surface of the piece of mesh and thereby linking it with the mesh,substantially as set forth.

" 3; In aili kesh machine, the combinationof means for supporting apiece of link- 'mesh, each'link of the mesh having loops at its ends,means for positioning links successively in cooperative relation to thelinks'of I the end of each link between the depending 'looped'ends of alink of saidmesh, and

] means for turning each link so advanced stantially as set forth.

about an axis parallel to the surface of" the piece of mesh and therebythreading its end through the loops in links of said mesh, sub- In alink-mesh machine, the combination of means for supporting a piece oflinkmesh, each link having its ends depending and having loops in suchends, means for advancing links successively and projecting the end ofeach link between the depending looped ends of a link of said mesh, andmeans for turning the links so advanced about an axis and therebythreading their ends through the loops in the links of said mesh,substantially as set forth.

6. Ina link-mesh machine, the combination of means for supporting apiece of linkmesh, each link having its ends depending and having loopsin such ends,'means for movingthe mesh step by step in the direction ofits length and in the direction of the width of the mesh, means foradvancing links successively and projecting the end of each link betweenthe depending looped ends of a link of said mesh, and means for turningthe links so advanced about an axis and loops in the links of saidmesh,substantially as set forth.

7.111 a linkmesh machine, the combination of means for supporting apieceof linkmesh,each link having its ends depending and having loops in suchends, a receptacle for links similar to those of said piece, andautomatic means for feeding links from the receptacle to the piece ofmesh and threading the endof each link so fedrthrough loops in the endsof two adjacent links of the piece of mesh, substantially as set forth,

8. In a link-mesh machine, the combination of means forsupporting apiece of linkmesh, each link having its ends'depending. and havmg loops1n such ends, means for' moving thepiece in the direction of the widthand the. direction of the length of "thereby threading their endsthrough'the' the fabric step by step, a receptacle for links 7 similarto those of said piece and automatic means operating during theintervals of rest of said step by, step movement'to feed a link fromsaid receptacle to said piece of'mesh and thread its end through theloops of two adjacent links of the piece of stantially as set forth.

9. In a link-mesh machine, the combina tion of means for supporting apiece of linkmesh, each link having its ends depending and'having loopsin such ends, .a receptacle for links similar to those of the mesh, and

automatic means for feeding links from the receptacle to the piece ofmesh andturning fabric, sub- 7 each link about an axis parallel to thesur- 7 face of, the piece of mesh to thread its end through the loops oftwo adjacent links of the piece of mesh, substantially as set forth.

10. In a link-mesh machine, the combination of means for supporting apiece of link- .mesh,'each link having its ends depending and havingloops in such ends, means for moving the piece in the direction of theWidth and the direction of the length of the fabric step by step, areceptacle for links similar to those of said piece and automatic meansoperating during the intervals of rest of said step by step movement tofeed a link from said receptacleto said piece-of mesh, and turn the linkabout anaxis parallel to the surface of the piece of mesh so as tothread its end through the loops of two adjacent links of the piece, offabric, substantially as set forth. H

11. Ina link-mesh machine, thecombination of means for supporting apiece of linkmesh. each link having its ends depending and h ving loopsin such'ends, a receptacle for links, a feeder for feeding links fromthe receptacle successively and projecting their ends between thedepending looped ends of links of said mesh, and means for turning thelinks so advanced about an axis and thereby threading their ends throughthe loops in the links of said mesh, substantially as set forth.

Cir

12. In a linlnmesl machine, the combina- 7 tion of means for supportinga piece of linkanesh, each link having its ends depend ing and havingloops in such ends, means for moving the mesh step by step in thedirection of its length and in the direction of the Width of the mesh, areceptaclefor links, a feeder for feeding links-from the receptaclesuccessively and projecting their ends between the depending looped endsof links of said mesh, and means for-turning the links so advanced aboutan axis and therebythreading their ends through the loops in the linksof said mesh, substantially I as set V forth.

13; In a link-mesh machine, the combination of means for supporting asleeve of link-mesh fabric,- means for rotating said 7 fabric step bystep and simultaneously moving it in the directionof its axis, means foradvancing links successively into cooperative relation to the links ofthe fabric, and means for turning the links so fedabout an axisDillitllGlfO the axis of said sleeve to link them with. the links'of thefabric, suljz-stantiallv a set forth. v v

14,. In a linksmesh machine,the combination of means for supporting asleeveof link-mesh fabric, each linkhaving its ends depending and havingloops in such ends, means for rotating saidfabric step by step andsimultaneously moving it in thedirec- (1101]. of its axis, means foradvancing links successively and projecting their ends between thedependn' g looped ends of links of said fabric, and means for turningthe links so advanced about an fakis parallel to the axis of said sleeveand thereby threading the end of each link through the loops in twoadjacent links of/saidfabric, substan tiallyas set forth,

15. In a link-meshinachine, the combinamesh, means for feeding linkssuccessively to the mesh with each link so fed lying in a planetransverse to theplane of the links of the mesh and means for turningeach of the links so fed bodily in the plane in Which it lies to mesh itWith those of the mesh and then releasing the link, substantially as setforth.

16. In a link-mesh machine, the combination of means for supporting apiece oflinkmesh, eachlink having its ends depending and having, loopsinsaid'ends, means for feeding similar links successively to the meshWith each link so fed lying in a plane transverse to the plane of thelinks of the mesh and means for threading the end of each link so fedthrough loops of links of the piece of mesh and then releasing the linkto permit it to drop to'the position of the other links of the piece ofmesh, substan tially as set forth.

17. In a link-mesh machine, the combination of means for supporting apiece of linkmesh, each link having its ends depending and having loopsin said ends, means for feeding similar links successively to the meshso that each link so fed projects between the ends of a link of the meshand, hes 111 a plane, transverse to the plane of tion of means forsupporting a sleeve of link-mesh fabric, each link having its ends arelOO

depending and having loops in such ends, 7

means for rotating said fabric step by step and simultaneously moving itin the direction of its axis, a receptacle for links, a

feeder for feeding links from the receptacle successively and projectingtheir ends between the depending looped ends of-hnks of S211Cl,f21l3rlC, and means for turn ng the links so advanced about an aXis andthereby 1 threading their ends through the loops in the links of saidfabric,-substantially as set forth.

a 19; In a link-mesh-machine, the combination of a receptacle for links,eachlink havmg a shape. approximating a SII11C11'CiQ,t-

feeder .WhOSG upper edge is of a size adapted to fit betweenthe sides ofa link, meansifor I recinrocatin the feeder Within the rece tacle, afeeding channel leading from the receptacle and adapted to receive linksfrom the upper edge of said/feeder, theentrance to the channel being solocated as to aline With the sides and upper end of the feeder when thelatteris in the highest position,

., a support for a piece of link-mesh, and

means for successively meshing links received from said channel with thelinks of said mesh, subs'tantiallyas set forth. V

, 20. In a link-mesh machine, thecombina- '"tion' of a receptacle forlinks, each link having a shape approximating a semicircle, a

' feeder whose upper edge is of a size adapted to fit between the sidesof a link, means for reciprocating. the feeder within the receptacle',means for subjecting the feeder to a blow "when it is inits highest'position, a

' feeding'channel leading from the receptacle andadapted to receivelinks from the upper edge of said feeder, theentrance to thechannelbeing so located as to aline with the sides and upper end of the feederwhen the latter isin the highest position, a support forj'apieceof'link-niesh, means for moving the mesh step by step in thedirection of the length andin the direction of the width of the mesh,and means for successively'meshing links received from said channel withv the linksvof said mesh, substantially'as set forth.

21. In a link-nieshmachine, the combi- Y nation of a receptacle"forlinks, each link i havmg a shape approximatlng a SGIIllCll'ClG,

a feeder whose upper edge is of a size adapted to fit between the sidesof va link, means for reciprocating the feeder within the receptacle, afeeding channel leading from the receptacle and adapted to receivelinks'from the upper edge of said feeder, the entrance to the, channelbeing so located as to al ine with the sides andupper end of the feederwhen the latter; is inthe highest position,

a support for a piece of link-mesh, and

means for successively turninglinks received from said'channel about anaxis and thereby threadin'g'the ends thereof through links of said mesh,substantially as set forth.

22; In a link-mesh machine, the combina t10n of a receptacle for links,each llnk havmg a shape'approx matmga sem1c1rcle, a

feeder whose upper edge is of a size adapted t-ofit between the sides ofa link, means for reciprocating theifeeder within therecep-f 't'a'cle,feeding channel leading from the receptacle and adapted to receive linksfrom theupper edge of said feeder, a support for a pieceoflink-mesh,means for V moving the mesh stepiby step in the direction ofthe "'linksfrrim said channel into cooperative relength and in thedirection of the width of the mesh, meansfor successively advancing Jlation tosaid Ymesh', and means for turning the links so advanced aboutan axis and thereby linking; them with those of said mesh, substantiallyas setforth;

"23. In alink-mesh machine, the combinationof a support for a piece oflinkmesh, the several 'linkshaving loops at their ends,

means for movingsaid mesh step bystep, a

tubular holder adjacent to the mesh, means for successively feedinglinks through the V holder so that their ends 'project'from the end ofthe holder, means for moving the holder about axis to thread thelinktherein through a loop in a link of the mesh, and means for causingtheholder to release a link, substantially as set forth. e 24.Inalink-mesh, iachine, the combina, tion ofa support for a piece 0flinkmesh, means for moving said mesh step by step,-

successively feeding links into the holder, means for moving the holderabout an axis parallel to the surface of'the piece of mesh to mesh thelink in the holder with'the mesh,

and means for causing the holder torelease the link, substantially asset forth.

I 25. In a link-mesh machine, thecombination of a receptacle for links,each link having a shape approximating a semicircle, a feeder whoseupper edge is of a size adapted to fit between'the sides of a link,means for reciprocating the feeder within the recep tacle, a feedingchannel leading from the receptacle: and adapted to receive links from eI a holder adjacent to the mesh, 'means for the upper edge of saidfeeder,the.entrance to the channelbeingso located as to aline Withth'esides and upper end of the feeder when the latter is in the highestposition, support for a piece oflink-mesh, means for inov-ing'the meshstep by step, a holder adjacent'to the mesh and receiving links fromsaid channel, means for turning'the' holder and the link therein'tothread the end of the link through links of thepiece of mesh, andme'ansfor causing the holder to release the link, substantially as setforth.

26. In a link-mesh machine, the v combinationof a receptacle for links,a channel leading therefrom, feeding devices for transsubstantially asset fforth.

I throughthe tube with those ofsaid mesh, 7

27,111 a linkrmesh, machinathe combina-j j tionfof a channel forllinks,atube supported adjacent to the end" of the channel having an opening inits side, a plunger operating in the tube andxme'ans for moving thetubepastthe "channel-so that the tube-receives a linkfromtheichannel throughthe opening inthe tube, then moving the plunger to advance the link inthe tube and close said opening, thenimoving the tube past the channelagain and then retracting the plunger to again present the opening inthe tube; t

to thechannel, substantially'as set forth;

tion of a support for a piece of link-mesh, a

- tube projecting toward the mesh, means for feeding links successivelyinto the tube, a plunger in the tube, means for reciprocating theplunger to advance the link in the tube and project its end from the endofthe tube, and means for turning the tube about an axis to mesh thelink so projectedwith those of said piece, substantially as set forth.

29. In a link-mesh machine, the combination of a support for a piece oflink-mesh, a tube projecting toward the mesh and having its endcontracted, means for feeding links successively into the tube, aplunger in the tube, means for reciprocating the plunger to advance thelink in the tube and project one end thereof from the end of the tube,the opposite end of the link being held by the contracted end of thetube, and means for meshing the link so projected with those of saidpiece, substantially as set forth.

30. In a linkanesh machine, the combination of a support for a piece ofvlink-mesh, a tube projecting toward the mesh, means for feeding linkssuccessively into the tube, a plunger in the tube, means forreciprocating the plunger to advance the link in the tube and projectits end from the end of the tube, means for moving the tube and the linktherein to mesh the link with those of the piece of mesh and means forfurther moving the link to discharge it from the end of the tube,substantially as set forth.

31. In a link-mesh machine the combination of a support for a piece oflink-mesh, a

tube projecting toward the mesh, means for feeding links successivelyinto the tube, a plunger in the tube, means for reciprocating theplunger to advance the link in the tube and project its end from the endof the tube, and means for turning the tube aboutan axis adjacent to thesurface of the piece of mesh to mesh the link projecting from the end ofthe tube with those of the mesh, substantially as set forth.

32. In a link-mesh machine, the combination of a support for a pieceoflink-mesh fabric, a channel for links, means for taking links from thechannel successively and advancing each link so that its end is adjacentto the fabric, and means for holding each link in a predeterminedrelation to the fabric and turning it about an axis to thread one endthereof through links of the fabric, substantially as set forth.

38. In a link-mesh machine, the combination of a support for a piece oflink-mesh fabric, each link thereof having its ends depending and havingloops in said ends,

'means for moving the fabric step by step, a

channel for links, means for taking links from the channel successivelyand advancing them toward the fabric, and means for holding each link ina predetermined relation to the fabric and turning it to thread one endthereof through loops in links of the fabric on said support,substantially as set forth.

34'. In a link-mesh machine, the combination of a support for a piece oflink-mesh fabric consisting of a multiplicity of separately formedintermeshed links, each link thereof having loops therein at its ends,means for meshing links with those of the fabric, and means forautomatically opening the loops in the ends of the links to permitthreading the ends of other links therethrough, substantially as setforth.

35. In a link-mesh machine, the combination of a support for a piece oflink-mesh fabric consisting of a multiplicity of separately formedintermeshed links, each link thereof having loops therein at its ends,means for meshing links with those of the fabric, and means forautomatically opening the loops in the ends of the links after the linkshave been added to the fabric to permit threading the ends of otherlinks therethrough, substantially as set forth.

36. In a link-mesh machine, the combination of a support for a piece oflink-mesh fabric consisting of a multiplicity of separately formedintermeshed links, each link thereof having loops therein at itsends,means for advancing links successively to a position adjacent to thefabric, means for moving the links so advanced to thread them throughthe loops in the links of the fabric, and means for automaticallyopening the loops in the ends of'the links to permit threading the endsof other links therethrough, substantially as set forth.

37. In a link-mesh machine, the combination of a support for a piece oflink-mesh fabric, each link thereof having loops at its ends, means formeshing links with those of 'thefabric, and means for automaticallysubjecting the loops of each link to pressure to cause theside Wallsthereof to spread apart, substantially as set forth.

'38. In a link-mesh machine, the combination of means for supporting apiece of linkmesh consisting of a multiplicity of sepa rately formedintermeshed links, each link of the meshhaving loops therein at its end,

means for advancing links successively into cooperative relation to thelinks of the mesh, means for turning the links so fed about an axis tolink them with the links of the mesh and threading their ends throughthe loops of the links of the mesh andmeans for enlarging the loops inthe ends of links on the mesh to permit threading the ends of otherlinks therethrough, substantially as set forth.

40. In a link-mesh machine, the combinationfiof means for supporting apiece of link-mesh and moving it step by step in the direction ofthelength andin the direction of the idth of the mesh, means for feedset forth; e,

41; In .a link-mesh machine, the combinaing disconnected linkssuccessively to the mesh and threading them through the loops in theends of links of the mesh and means for enlarging the loops in the endsof links 7 of the mesh to permit threading the ends of other linkstherethrough, substantially as tion of means for supporting a piece oflinkmesh, each link having its ends depending and having loops in suchends, means for l advancing disconnected links successively andprojecting their ends between the depending looped ends of links of themesh, means for turning the links so advanced about an axis and therebythreading their ends through the loops in the linksof the mesh and meansfor enlarging the loops in the ends of links of the mesh to permitthreading the ends of other links therethrough, substantially as setforth.

42; In a link-mesh machine, the combina tion of a support for a piece oflink-mesh,

each link ofthe'mesh having loops formed therein at'its -ends,imeans formov ng the 7 piece of mesh step by step, a supply device for links,means for feeding disconnected links successively from said dev ce intocooperative relation to the piece" of 'mesh,

means for turning each link so fed about an axis to thread one endthereof through loops in links of the mesh, and means for enlar ing theloops in the ends of links of the mesh ,to'permit threadingthe ends ofother links therethrough, substantially as set'forth.

43. In. aolink-mesh machine, the combination of means for supporting apiece of linkmesh, each link of the mesh having loops at its ends, meansfor threading links successively through the loops of links of the mesh7 so as to add links to the mesh and'means for subjecting links of themesh to pressure to cause the loops at the ends of suchlinks to beenlarged, substantially asset forth.

44, Ina link-mesh machine, thecoinbination of means forsupporting apiece of linkmesh, each'link having loops formed therein atits ends,means for moving the piece of meshstep by step in the direction of thelength and in the direction of the Width of the piece, means foradvancing links successivelyto the mesh, means for'threading the linkssoadvanced through the loops in the links ofthe mesh and means forsubjecting links of the mesh to pressureto thereby enlarge the loops inthe ends'o such links, substantiallyas set forth.

45. In a link-mesh machine, the combina- V tion'of means for supportinga piece of linkmesh, each link having its ends depending and havingloops in such ends, and means for advancing disconnected linkssuccessively to said piece of mesh and threading.

of said piece of mesh, substantially as set forth f 1 47. In a link-meshmachine, the combination of means for supporting apiece oflinkmesh,=each link havingits ends depending andhavingloops lIlQSllChends, means for advancing disconnected links successively to said pieceof mesh to carry one end of each link in proximity to the loops in theends of tWo adjacent links of said piece of mesh, and

means for turning each link so advanced to thread its end through theloops in said two adjacent links, substantially as set forth;

This specification signed and witnessed this24thday, of January, 1912. ej V I V V ALPHONSO C. PRATT. Witnesses: v 7

, CHARLES E'KELLY, V A. YOUNGHOLM.

Copies ofthis patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing'the oc'oinmissioner ofiatents,

. Washington, ID. 0;! I

